Palestinians with dual citizenship gather outside Rafah border crossing with Egypt in the hope of getting permission to leave Gaza, amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip October 16, 2023. (REUTERS)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Mark Villar on Monday called on the Philippine government to “exhaust all means” to secure the safety of Filipinos amid the rising conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas.
“Let us exhaust all diplomatic means possible to have our resources be readily available for the affected Filipinos so that we could help them as soon as the situation permits,” said Villar in a statement.
“Huwag po nating pabayaan ang ating mga kababayan sa Israel at Gaza,” he added.
(Let’s not neglect our countrymen in Israel and Gaza.)
Citing information from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Villar noted that three Filipinos have died amid the armed conflict.
These deaths, according to the senator, are enough to consider the conflict as an urgent concern.
“I am urging the Philippine government to utilize all available means and resources to locate the missing Filipinos, safely repatriate all affected Filipinos, and exhaust all available diplomatic channels for the release of abducted Filipinos, particularly those sealed off in the enclave,” he said.